XXII

dpresent,haveforgottenatleastforonemorningthenecessity,thedrearinessofbeingforcedtofacethings,totalkover,todecide.Besides,whatcouldhedecide?Theunhappymanhadnoidea.NorhadPriscilla.TostayinSymfordseemedimpossible,buttoleaveitseemedstillmoreso.AndsoonerthangobackdisgracedtoKunitzandflingherselfatpaternalfeetwhichwouldinallprobabilityimmediatelyspurnher,Priscillafeltshewoulddie.ButhowcouldshestayinSymford,surroundedbyangryneighbours,nextdoortoTussie,withRobincomingbackforvacations,withMrs.Morrisonhatingher,withLadyShuttleworthhatingher,withEmma'sfatherhatingher,withthebloodofMrs.Jonesonherhead?Couldonelivepeacefullyinsuchanaccursedplace?Yethowcouldtheygoaway?Eveniftheywereabletocomposetheirnervessufficientlytomakenewplanstheycouldnotgobecausetheywereindebt. "Fritzi,"criedPriscillawithmorepassionthanshehadeverputintospeechbefore,"life'stoomuchforme—Itellyoulife'stoomuchforme!"Andwithagestureofherarmsasthoughshewouldsweepitallback,keepitfromsurgingoverher,fromchokingher,sheranoutintothestreettogetintoherownroomandbealone,pullingthedoortobehindherforfearheshouldfollowandwanttoexplainandcomfort,leavinghimwithhis?schylusinwhich,happeningtoglancesighing,he,enviableman,atoncebecameagainabsorbed,andrunningblindly,headlong,asherunswhoissurroundedandaccompaniedbyaswarmofdeadlyinsectswhichhevainlytriestoout-distance,sheranstraightintosomebodycomingfromtheoppositedirection,ranfulltilt,wasalmostknockedoffherfeet,andlookingupwiththeimpatientanguishofhimwhoisaskedtoendurehislaststrawherlipsfellapartinanutterandboundlessamazementforthepersonshehadrunagainstwasthatPrince—thelastoftheseries,distinguishedfromtherestbyhishavingquenchedtheGrandDuke'sirrelevanteffervescencebythesimpleexpedientofsayingBosh—whohadsoearnestlydesiredtomarryher.